Chapter 182: The Purification and Pursuit
Within the lake-like chamber enclosed by vegetation and purification magic, five figures sat half-submerged with barely anything on. The soft glow of Shayleaf's spell filled the space with a natural essence that clung to their skin like a second layer.
Tongsheng and Prawna quietly cleansed themselves in the water, though both occasionally stole furtive glances toward Elton—especially Prawna, whose eyes lingered on him with open boldness.
Shayleaf, on the other hand, had none of their restraint. She splashed about happily, her body practically on full display as she called out to Elton and Christy like an excited child in a woman's form.
Christy fidgeted, her blush refusing to fade as her eyes kept betraying her, flicking toward Elton's body again and again.
Elton himself was worse off, stiff and silent, sighing as he struggled to focus on anything else. Shayleaf's voice constantly cut through his attempts at composure.
"Brother Elly, don't be so stiff! Relaxing will let the purified essence soak in faster. We'll finally wash away that disgusting creature's ki!" Shayleaf cheered.
"Y-Yeah… I hear you…" Elton muttered, forcing his eyes downward toward the water.
Splash!
"S-Shay! What are you—?!" Elton jerked as Shayleaf suddenly swam over and clung to him.
"Shay!" Christy squeaked, nearly standing up in the water. "H-have you no shame?!"
"What's the problem?" Shayleaf tilted her head innocently. "I just wanted to help Brother Elly relax… with a massage."
Both Elton and Christy froze at her brazenness. Tongsheng raised her brows with faint amusement, while Prawna's eyes gleamed with heat.
Elton's self-control buckled. Shayleaf's smooth skin pressed against him, her fragrance filling his senses. He gulped, his face burning.
Before he could speak, Christy blurted, "M-my eyes are better suited to finding pressure points! Gege, let me relax you!" She splashed over, clinging to him from the other side.
Now pinned between two warm, beautiful bodies, Elton nearly lost his composure. His muttered complaint slipped out anyway: "…Ladies, why must you make this so damned difficult for me…"
"Master Elton," Tongsheng interjected softly, sliding closer with a sly smile, "if you desire… I don't mind being of service as well."
Elton groaned, his head falling back against the tree wall. "Tongsheng, don't start too…"
And then Prawna swam forward. Compared to the others, her every movement was slow, deliberate, her body practically sculpted to tempt. She pressed close, her voice husky.
"Milord," she purred, licking her lips, "I am willing to do all of that… and more."
Christy snapped. "No! Absolutely not! I won't allow it!" she shouted, gnashing her teeth.
The back-and-forth continued, Elton caught in the center like prey among predators, until finally his will broke. With a shout of frustration, he tore himself from the water, grabbed his cleaned clothes, and dressed as quickly as possible outside.
When the others finally emerged, Shayleaf retracted her magical forest with a pout. She latched onto Elton's arm, whining, "Why did you have to run away so soon? Buuu!"
Elton sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "It was too much for me to handle, that's all. Let's move on before that thing catches up again."
Christy stammered, her blush lingering. "Y-yes, Gege is right."
The group mounted Elchris, who chirped as his feathers gleamed with new vibrancy. His frame was slightly slimmer, and his movements felt sharper.
"Eh?! Elchris, your feathers are brighter… you even shrank a little. Was this… evolution from the purification?" Christy exclaimed.
The great bird tilted its head and chirped with almost childlike pride.
"Amazing," Elton breathed.
Even Shayleaf and Tongsheng were impressed, while Cromlan muttered, "Its intelligence… feels sharper too."
Prawna gave a knowing glance but said nothing.
Four minutes after they departed, the Mortal Lord beast's towering aura descended on their old location. With a furious glare, it unleashed a storm of blasts, decimating the purifying grove. When its quarry wasn't there, it sniffed the air and let out an earth-shaking roar that carried for miles, rampaging in blind fury.
Though far away, Elton's group could still feel the faint quakes and hear the distant rumbles.
"Looks like everything worked," Elton said with relief.
"Thank goodness," Christy sighed. "I was worried."
"Then let us fly onward!" Shayleaf cheered.
But another roar followed—a sharper, darker one. This time Elton and the others stiffened as not one but two Mortal Lord auras closed in on their general direction. One was the same beast as before. The other…
Christy's face drained of color. "No…! That Golden Lord serpent—it's broken through into a Mortal Lord! I thought the essence beast killed it!"
Almost immediately, three more Mortal Lord auras erupted nearby, clashing with the first two. The land quaked as five titans collided, their shockwaves battering even Elton's group from a distance.
"This is insane…" Elton's face hardened. "We can't stay anywhere near this battlefield. Elchris—take us out of here at full speed!"
With a blazing glow and a thunderous boom, Elchris soared into the distance, leaving the chaos of five Mortal Lords tearing into one another behind them.